HAMILTON—More than 500,000 Ontarians who have welcomed a new baby in their lives since 2005 are also warmly embracing the online service that guarantees quick delivery of their child’s birth certificate.

“Parents have a lot on their minds after a baby is born, so we’re happy to take the hassle out of registering the birth and getting a birth certificate,” said Government and Consumer Services Minister Ted McMeekin Friday at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton. “This online service simply gives parents worry-free access to what they want and when they want it.”

In 2005, ServiceOntario introduced North America’s first money-back service guarantee for birth certificates ordered online.  With a 99 per cent success rate, ServiceOntario has delivered over a half-million of those documents within 15 business days.

Before securing the birth certificate service guarantee, parents have to register newborn births with the Ontario government.  That is getting easier as well. An integrated birth registration system, now being rolled out across Ontario, already has new parents and hospital professionals applauding the service.

“This is a fantastic service,” said Marnie Buchanan, nurse manager of the maternal child program at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.  “It’s so easy and simple to use that someone obviously built it with new parents in mind.”

Offered in co-operation with Service Canada, it allows parents to register their child’s birth online and apply for a birth certificate and Social Insurance Number at the same time. And right in the hospital.

“In all aspects, we are revolutionizing government services,” said McMeekin, pointing out that the newborn registration system is now available in Hamilton and other municipalities in Halton, Niagara and Peel regions.

It is expected the birth registration service will be available across Ontario by 2009. ServiceOntario, meanwhile, has also expanded its guaranteed service to include marriage and death certificates.

Backgrounder: Online options at serviceontario.ca

Audio:   http://www.vvc1.ca/client/mgs/01252008/audio.html

Webcast: http://www.vvc1.ca/client/mgs/01252008/

Photos:  http://www.vvc1.ca/client/mgs/01252008/01-MGS-01-25-08/

Contacts:
Ciaran Ganley
Ministry of Government and Consumer Services
416-325-8659 

Greg Dennis
Minister’s Office
416-327-3072